Device for automatically turning, lifting off and replacing covers on the charging shafts of coking ovens

ABSTRACT

An automatic device for engaging and then subsequently turning and lifting off a cover for the charging shaft of a coking oven includes a horizontally extending support which is carried on a rotary column and which includes a drive motor thereon for rotating an engagement member through a clutch mechanism which causes the engagement and centering of a shaft cover and its rotation on a shaft seat in order to facilitate the lifting of the cover upwardly and away from a top opening of a charging shaft for a coking oven furnace. In one embodiment, the device includes a clutch mechanism which provides a centering of the cover and the holding of the cover in a centered position while it is rotated in order to facilitate the precise replacement of the cover in the centered position. The support is carried on a column which is mounted on a support or frame for rotary movement and which is guided for up and down movement in order to facilitate the lifting and lowering of the cover. The rotary movement of the column is effected by engagement of a roller follower of the column with a control cam which provides an accurate rotary shifting movement of the support during the upward and downward movement of the column. In another embodiment of the invention the engagement means for the cover on the support includes a magnet which may be energized to lift the cover upwardly instead of having a rotary cam arm which engages into open ends of oppositely directed angles carried on the cover&#39;&#39;s top.

United States Patent [1 1 Abendroth [451 Aug. 21, 1973 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING,

LIFTING OFF AND REPLACING COVERS ON THE CHARGING SHAFTS OF COKING OVENS [75] Inventor: Werner Abendroth, Recklinghausen,

Germany [73] Assignee: Firms Carl Still, Recklinghausen,

Germany [22] Filed: June 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 156,916

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-John J. McGlew et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic device for engaging and then subsequently turning and lifting off a cover for the charging shaft of a coking oven includes a horizontally extending support which is carried on a rotary column and which includes a drive motor thereon for rotating an engagement member through a clutch mechanism which causes the engagement and centering of a shaft cover and its rotation on a shaft seat in order to facilitate the lifting of the cover upwardly and away from a top opening of a charging shaft for a coking oven furnace. In one embodiment, the device includes a clutch mechanism which provides a centering of the cover and the holding of the cover in a centered position while it is rotated in order to facilitate the precise replacement of the cover in the centered position. The support is carried on a column which is mounted on a support or frame for rotary movement and which is guided for up and down movement in order to facilitate the lifting and lowering of the cover. The rotary movement of the column is effected by engagement of a roller follower of the column with a control cam which provides an accurate rotary shifting movement of the support during the upward and downward movement of the column. In another embodiment of the invention the engagement means for the cover on the support includes a magnet which may be energized to lift the cover upwardly instead of having a rotary cam arm which engages into open ends of oppositely directed angles carried on the covers top.

10 Claims, 6Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAUGZ] I975 3.753502 saw 2 ur 4 FIG.3

INVENTOR. WERNER ABE DRUT H ATTORNEY PATENIEDAusm ms 3.7533502 SHEEI 3 OF 4 INVENTO F I G. 5 WERNH? Asa/0R5 r11 BY fix kj) A TTORIVEI DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING, LIFTING OFF AND REPLACING COVERS ON THE CHARGING SI-IAF'TS OF COKING OVENS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to the construction of operating devices for coking furnaces and, in particular, to a new and useful automatic device for turning and lifting off covers of the shaft of coking ovens for the purpose of charging the ovens with coal and for subsequently replacing the covers and accurately positioning them on the charging shaft.

2. Description of the Prior Art Automatic devices are known for turning, lifting off, repositioning and screwing into a tight fit on a charging shaft of a coke oven the covers for such shafts. Such devices are carried on coke oven charging cars and in the charging position of the charging car they are pivoted and lowered into the space between the coal transfer members at the under part of the charging vessel and the charging shaft covers. The apparatus is operated to grip the covers and turn them and in so doing detach and crush any accretions between the cover seat and the charging shaft frame. Thereafter the covers are lifted off and pivoted away from the charging shaft in order that the coal transfer members of the charging vessels can be lowered into the charging shaft frame. After the charging operation, the transfer members are lifted again and moved back to a position overlying the shaft where the covers are dropped and screwed into a tight fit with the shaft thereby crushing any coal that has gotten between the cover and the charging shaft frame so that it no longer is an obstacle to a tight fit. Thereafter, the device is pivoted out of the way again and it is ready for the next lifting off process.

When such devices operate mechanically, they are equipped with levers or arms which cooperate with entrainer angles or eyes at the charging shaft covers. In addition, they have a compensation coupling for axial deviations between the gripping means and the charging shaft covers as well as drives and forced transmission means for the cover gripping and turning means and also for the pivoting, lifting and positioning means. The means for the gripping may also be electromagnetic. The eye and charging shaft covers are then gripped by magnets of the lifting means, they are held and centered and turned and then lifted off and placed on again after charging and rescrewed in and released again. The compensation coupling permits a tolerance with respect to the position of the charging car over the charging shaft. It is usually not possible to stop the charging car exactly in the position that the axial of the lifting device and of the charging shaft cover coincide. On the other hand, additional inaccuracies result from the fact that either the centers of the charging frames of an oven chamber are not exactly in the center of the oven chamber or the centers of the charging shaft of all the chambers are not exactly on parallel axis and the additional inaccuracies of the laid charging car tracks. in the known devices, no structural measures are taken which preculde the slipping of the compensation coupling and of the attached charging shaft cover during the pivoting. No assurance is given, therefore, that the cover grip by the gripping device will exactly remain in its position, that is, it is not certain that when the cover is lowered again it will again be exactly aligned with the charging shaft frame.

The pivoting, lowering and lifting means of the known devices have uncontrolled play, thus, for example, an arrangement is known where a horizontal roll or pin connected with a vertical rotary column is guided in the cam slot of a steel plate. The roll controls the pivoting of the device during lowering or lifting. The roll or pin can of course fulfill its function only when it bears against an edge of the slot. Thereby, a strict conduction of the roll or pin and hence of the cover gripper means without uncontrolled horizontal play is precluded, and in the operation of these devices the charging shaft covers are not accurately gripped by the gripping elements and it is often necessary to aid their removal and replacement by additional elements such as levers, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided an automatic device for turning, lifting off and placing of covers onto charging shafts of coking ovens which comprises a cover gripping and turning means and a pivoting, lifting off and positioning device. The pivoting, lifting and positioning device is carried on a charging car and it carries a support at its lowermost end for the cover turning and removal mechanism which pivots with a pivotal column which is mounted for up and down and pivotal movement. The mechanism includes a compensation coupling carried at the outer end of the support member which is driven through a rotary drive connection in the support member and which indludes means for engaging and centrally positioning the cover during the rotatable engagement process and then for rotating them on their engaged shaft seat to remove any dust thereon and for lifting them upwardly from the shaft seat. The support mechanism is thereafter pivoted at a position after it has been raised upwardly above the shaft height and after the shaft is charged with coal, the support member is rotated back to a position in which the cover overlies the shaft and the cover is lowered with the support to position the cover back on the shaft seat. A spring supports the lower support and relieves the application pressure on the shaft when the cover is lowered thereon. The cover is carried by the engagement mechanism in a centered position and it remains in that centered position when it is returned for rotation on the shaft seat and positioning in tight engagement over the shaft.

The invention is characterized by a ratchet construction in the compensation coupling which prevents a displacement of the lifted charging shaft cover during the movement of the support mechanism of the cover engagement device when the cover is being removed and displaced away from the shaft to prevent charging thereof. The engagement mechanism for the cover retains the cover immovably in an aligned position so that the cover will be positioned precisely over the shaft frame when it is returned after the support mechanism is rotated back in position. The engagement mechansim permits pivoting, lowering and lifting and turning of the cover engagement elements without uncontrolled play.

The horizontal pivoting, lowering and lifting of the gripping means for the cover without uncontrolled play at a vertical rotary column is advantageously effected by means of a cam guide piece of round cross-section which is located adjacent the vertically movable and rotatable column. The column carries a roller on each side of the rounded guide piece which runs in engagement with the piece and provides the controlled rotary pivotal movement of the column during its upward and downward movement. The upward and downward movement is efi'ected by a hydraulic piston and cylinder connection to the column instead of the fixed guide for the controlled rotation of the column and the accurate positioning of the horizontal support member, other means such as a fluid drive motor connection to the rotatable column may be provided. A relief spring supports the column and the associated support mechanism for the cover gripping elements so that the weight of this mechanism is supported on the spring and it is not borne entirely by the cover.

The cover gripping and turning device comprises a mechanical coupling which includes a cam plate having lever lugs which cooperate with the entrainer angles or angle plate members which have open sides oriented in respective opposite directions on the charging cover. Upon rotation of the lever about its center, it is deflected by the angles so that the angles shift the cover up until the time that the lever lugs engage with the angles and after the cover has been accurately centered relative to the gripping device. The device for transmitting the rotary drive to the engagement member comprises a chain and sprocket system carried on the lower support.

In some instances it is desirable that the cover gripping mechanism and turning device comprises an electromagnetic engagement member. In this construction, the cam plate with the lever lugs and the entrainer angles are thus not required. The entrainer angles usually project beyond the level of the battery ceiling and they have often been the cause of accidents. In addition, they make it difficult to keep the battery ceiling clean.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for removing, turning and subsequently replacing covers of coke oven charging furnaces in order to facilitate their accurate removal and subsequent accurate replacement and turning down on the shaft charging opening seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a charging device for a coke oven which includes means which are automatically operable to remove the coke oven shaft covers while permitting the charging of the furnace and then subsequently moving the covers back into a position aligned with the shaft furnace and for rotating them on the shaft furnace cover seat to accurately position them back in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coke oven cover removal device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufac ture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view partly in section of a device for turning, removing, displacing and subsequently repositioning and turning on of covers of a shaft furnace for facilitating the charging thereof, constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan section taken of lever and cover engagement FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the lever in an advanced position; take along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing another embodiment of the invention;

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises, a device for engaging an engagement member or lever 1, with engagable elements or angle members 2 of a shaft furnace over 3, for the purpose of turning it relative to a seat 7 of a shaft 25 located in a roof structure 24 of a shaft furnace 26. The engagement member 1 is carried on a horizontal support 13 which is affixed to the lower end of a rotary column by a bracket 12a. The rotary column 12 forms a portion of a pivoting, lowering and lifting means for the support 13 and, it is rotatably supported on spaced bearing journals 29 and 29a carried on an upstanding support frame 27 which is secured to a support 33 of a charge car (not shown) by screws 32.

In accordance with the invention, drive means are provided in the form of a gear brake motor 4 which is operated by a control mechanism in the form of a preset control device 16, which is arranged in a housing portion 17 on the support 13. The motor 4 drives a sprocket wheel 18 which drives a sprocket wheel 19 through a chain 5. A sprocket 18a is provided for tensioning the chain. The sprocket 19 is carried on a rotatable shaft 20 which is connected with a compensation coupling including two coupling discs or first-and second clutch members 6 and 6a as shown in detail in FIG. 5. Between the coupling disc 6 and 6a lies a clutch having beams 9 and 9a extending at right angles to each other. The second clutch member is connected with cover engagement membel l. The beams 9 and 9a form one portion of a centering mechanism for the clutch which has four bearing points at the ends of the beams 9 and 9a. As shown particularly in FIG. 5, the engagement member 1 with the second clutch member 6a are supported by ratchet means from the first clutch member 6 which include bearings for clutch disc holding plates or securing straps 10 which engage over the beams 9 and 9a and carry the lower clutch coupling disc 6a and the cover engagement member 1. Bearings 10a carry the upper clutch coupling disc 6. The bearings l0 and have oblong slots 50 and 50a for receiving the ends of the beams 9 and 9a of the clutch. In the bearings 10 are also arranged pins 48 and 480 whose ends are formed as points or cutting edges which engage in the serrations of ratchets or teeth I l and 1 1a at the ends of the beams 9 and 9a of the clutch when the charging shaft cover 3 is centered in respect to engagement by the engagement member or lever l with the open faced angles 2 of the cover 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the levers 1a of the cam plate 1 engage with the trainer angles 2 and they are carried by a spacer piece 49 on the lower coupling disc 6a. Beam 9 carries the ratchet serrations 11 on the top side and the pins 48 engage there with their sharp edges, while the beam 90 has the ratchet serration 11a on the bottom side which are engaged by the sharp edges of the pins 48a.

The shaft is supported by bearings 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 5, which are located in bearing housings 21 and 21a respectively. An upper bearing cover 22a engages over the top of the support 13 at this end.

In FIG. 1, a coal transfer funnel 8 of a charging vessel carried on the charge car is shown at a position overlying a shaft furnace 25 and above the cover engagement means. It includes a packing ring 14 which fits into the charging shaft furnace 7 and an attachment 15 for the packing ring.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cover engagement member 1 is lowered in a position in which it is offset from the center of the cover, it is deflected by engagement of the sides thereof with the angle members 2 of the shaft cover and, upon further rotation in the direction of the arrows shown, which is produced by the driving motor 4, it is shifted along with the coupling disc 6a to change the centering position of the bearing sleeves 10 on the beams 9 and 9a. The shifting proceeds until the lifting mechanism is centered in respect to the cover as shown in FIG. 3 and the lever arms la engage in the open sides of the oppositely facing angle members 2.

As soon as the charging shaft cover hangs with its own weight on the engagement member 1, the pins 48 are pulled with their sharp edges into the grooves of the ratchet 11 and the pins 48a are urged into the grooves of the ratchet 11a so that the cover is held immovably in the position in which it is lifted and it will stay in this position during lifting and pivoting of the support 13 to a position out of the way of the charging shaft 25. Thus, the centrifugal force acting on the cover during shifting will not cause the movement of the cover in its suspension and the pins in the grooves of the ratchets prevent any displacement.

When the charging shaft cover 3 is reinserted in the charging shaft frame, the coupling is pressed together by the weight of the device insofar as this weight is not absorbed by the spring 46 which surrounds the rotary column 12 and is located between a supporting journal 29a and a collar 47 carried on the shaft 12. When this occurs, the beam 9 of the clutch moves to the bottom of the slots 50 of the associated bearing sleeves 10, and the beam 9a moves in the slot 500 of the bearing 10a to the top so that the pins 48 and 48a detach themselves from the serrations of the ratchets 11 and 110, respectively. Therefore, the compensation coupling is again released and can be adjusted to any other position and fixed again during the next gripping action when the device is moved to another cover of another charging shaft.

In order to effect the vertical movement of the rotary column 12, a hydraulic drive in the form of a cylinder 30 is pivoted to a bracket 31 on the frame 27, and it connects through a piston rod 34 to the rotary column 12. Between the piston rod 34 and the rotary bearing 28, there is arranged a fork head 35. The connection between the fork head 35 and the rotary bearing 28 is established by a bolt 36 which is arranged to extend through a slot 37 of each fork head 35. The slots 37 are sufficiently elongated to receive and compensate for any uneveness or any qualities in the height position of the numerous charging shaft covers. A guide plate 38 protects against rotation of the piston rod 34 with respect to the head 35. Limit switches 39a and 39b are located along the path of movement of the piston rod and they provide control elements for regulating the drive of the hydraulic cylinder 30.

For the control of the horizontal shifting of the support 13, and the rotary movement of the shaft 12 during its up and downward movement, there is provided a cam guide piece 40 which has an offset portion and which is fastened to the frame 27 by the angle irons 41. A rocker 42, having two roll followers 43 carried on a guide claw 44, which is secured to the column 12 by a shackle 45, engages with the roller 43 over the cam guide piece 40 and causes a rotation of the shaft and a horizontal shifting of the support 13 in order to shift the position of the cover out of the way of the shaft 25 and then to reposition it back over the shaft 25 for replacement.

The device according to the invention operates as follows:

The charging car is first moved into a charging position and the drive stand carries a control which switches on a program control, for example, of a control drum which triggers the automatic processes through the control mechanism 16. Pressure oil is then directed into the hydraulic cylinder 30 so that the rotary column 12 goes down, and, guided by the guide 40, is rotated to shift the support horizontally. The support 13 pivots in such a way that the cover gripping means 1 passes between the charging shaft cover and the coal transfer funnel 8 and engages over the charging shaft cover 3 with the weight force thereof being partially supported by the relief spring 46. The weight of the device therefore is relieved to about 20 to 10 kilograms. A further downward movement of the piston rod 34 is intercepted by the slots 37 and the fork head 35. Thus, it has no longer any influence on the rotary column 12 to cause any further downward movement thereof. The downward movement of the piston rod 34 is interrupted when the limit switch 39b shuts off the pump motor for the supply of pressure oil to the hydraulic cylinder 30. At the same time, the limit switch 391; causes the switching on of the control mechanism 16 to actuate the brake motor 4. The brake motor, therefore, causes the rotation of the engagement member 1 to cause the lever arm portions la to become centered and then move into the open ends of the entrainer angles 2 to cause complete engagement of the lifting mechanism with the covers 3. The covers are centered during this operation as outlined above. According to the program imposed on it by the control mechanism 16, the motor 4 causes the rotation of the shaft cover 3 in the filling shaft frame on the seat 7 by In so doing, any incrustations between the seat and the cover are ground to powder and this ground powder will fall into the charging shaft 25 and the cover seat and the charging shaft frame will be clean.

Thereafter, the control mechanism 16 causes a switching of the motor 4, so that it stops rotating the engagement member 1 and oil is again admitted to the pressure cylinder 30 so that the column 12 is lifted and then pivoted away from the shaft 25 so that the cover is moved away from a position between the charging 7 funnel 8 and the shaft 25. The upward movement and the shifting movement continues until the limit switch 39a is actuated to stop this movement.

When this occurs, the programmed control mechanism causes a shifting of the transfer funnel 8 in the direction of the charging shaft 25 until the packing ring 14 sits in the charging shaft frame 7. After the coal charging is completed, the program control causes the relifting of the coal transfer funnel 8 and afther this, the movement of the rotary column 12 is again reinitiated. The rotary column 12 then rotates so that the cover gripping and holding device I, with the cover 3, is moved over the shaft 25 and placed downwardly thereon until it is fitted on the shaft furnace seat 7. Cover 3 is reinserted in the charging shaft frame exactly in the position in which it was taken up because the lifting member 1 becomes centered in respect to the associated coupling mechanism and the cover and the coupling mechanism absorbs the axial deviation. Because of the locking ratchet elements, the cover is retained in the aligned position. The rotary column 12 is mounted so that it does not have any play.

The precise re-positioning of the cover becomes possible by the combination according to the invention of the vertical rotary column 12 without play and the angageable compensation coupling for absorption of axial deviations of the lifting member 1 in respect to the cover 3. After the cover 3 has been placed on again in the charging shaft frame seat 7, the lifting member 1 is rotated to rotate the cover within the seat by 270 as set by the programming or control device 16. This pulverizes any line coal adhering to the seat and distributes evenly so that a tight fit of the cover is ensured. Then the motor 4 is set into operation by the control mechanism 16 to rotate in an opposite direction to disengage the lifting member 1 from the cover and a limit switch which is offset from the mechanism by 90 causes the motor 4 to stop. As a last programmed operation, the rotary column 12 is then lifted further and the support 13 pivoted therewith so that the cover gripping means is again located outside the range of the charging shaft 25 and the coal transfer funnel 8. The limit switch 39a then causes the motor for the pressure oil to the hydraulic cylinder 30 to be switched off. The device, therefore, fulfills its work program for one even chamber charge and it is ready to be used for the next even chamber to be charged.

in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, similar parts are similarly designated, but with a prime added. It should be noted that in this arrangement, the coupling does not include a lift member 1 but instead includes an electromagnet 51 which is fastened to the lower coupling disc 6a. The magnet 51 siezes the charging shaft cover 3 and retains it during the rotary movements and the pivotal up and down movements, then releases it again after completion of the program for the entire device.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for removing and accurately repositioning a cover for a coking furnace having a charging shaft with a cover seat closed by a cover engaged on said seat, comprising a support having a cover engagement member, rotation drive means on said support for rotating said cover engagement member, movement means connected to said support to raise and lower it and to rotate it to cause said engagement member to be moved into a position overlaying the cover, lowered into engagement with the cover, lifted upwardly with the cover, moved out of alignment with the charging shaft and subsequently to be moved back into alignment with the charging shaft and to be lowered with the cover to place it back on the charging shaft cover seat, said rotation drive including a first rotatable clutch member, ratchet means including a bearing sleeve with an engagement pawl on said cover engagement member supporting said cover engagement member from said first clutch member for engaging said cover engagement member for rotation therewith for permitting shifting of said cover engagement member in relation to said first clutch member to permit repositioning of said cover member for centering it in respect to the cover, said first clutch member having a cross bar with ratchet teeth which are engaged by said pawl, said engagement member including an arm portion contactable with the cover during initial rotation of said engagement member which is deflectable by the cover to cause its repositioning and reengagement in respect to said first clutch member to center it in respect to said cover.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cover is adapted to contain trainer angles which open outwardly in respective opposite directions a diametrical opposite locations on the top of the cover, said engagement member including a rotatable lever member having an arm portion extending outwardly from each side and which is initially positioned between the trainer angles of the cover and rotated to move each lever arm portion into engagement with the trainer angles to permit subsequent rotation and lifting of the cover.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a rotary column connected adjacent its lower end to said support, means for supporting said rotary column for rotative movement and for up and down movement, a drive motor connected to said column for shifting it upwardly and downwardly, and a curved round guide rod engageabie with said column during its upward and downward movement for rotating said column.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said guide rod comprises a rod member having an offset portion and being mounted at a fixed location adjacent said column, and roller follower means on said column en gaged against each said of said rod member and being movable therealong during vertical movement of said column to cause rotative movement of said column.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidmovement means comprises a rotatable column which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said column for shifting it vertically, cam means adjacent said column for guiding said column for rotative movement as it is shifted vertically, said column having a lower end connected to said support.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a rotatable column connected to said support, means supporting said column for rotative movement and for vertical displacement, a fluid motor connected to said column for shifting said column vertically, and means associated with said column for rotating said column as it is shifted vertically.

7. A device for removing and accurately repositioning a cover for a coking furnace having a charging shaft with a cover seat, closed by a cover engaged on a seat, comprising a support having a cover engagement member, rotation drive means on said support for rotating said cover engagement member, movement means connected to said support to raise and lower it and to rotate it and to cause said engagement member to be moved into a position overlaying the cover, lowered into engagement with the cover, lifted upwardly with the cover, moved out of alignment with the charging shaft and subsequently to be moved back into alignment with the charging shaft and to be lowered with the cover to place it on the charging shaft cover seat, coupling means connected between said rotation drive means and said cover engagement member for centering said cover engagement member with the cover, and means associated with said engagement member for securing said cover to said engagement member, said coupling means comprising at least one centering beam, suspension means suspending said engagement member on said centering beam permitting displacement along said beam, and ratchet means carried by said suspension means to hold said suspension means in a fixed position in respect to said centering beams when said engagement member bears the weight of said cover, said movement means comprising a rotary column connected adjacent its lower end to said support, means for supporting said rotary column for rotative movement and for up and down movement, a drive motor connected to said column for shifting it upwardly and downwardly, and a curved round guide rod engageable with said column during its upward and downward movement for rotating said column, said guide rod comprising a rod member having an offset portion and being mounted at a fixed location adjacent said column, and roller follower means on said column engaged against each side of said rod member and being movable therelaong during vertical movement of said column to cause rotative movement of said column.

8. A device according to claim 7, including ratchet means engageable between said engagement strap and said beam for locking said strap in respect to said beam, said engagement member comprising a rotatable member having a cam lever surface, said cover including an angle member opening in respective opposite directions at widely spaced locations on said cover, said engagement member being rotatable with its axis centered between said angle members and having a surface engageable with the angle members to shift said engagement member and said second disc along said beam for centering the engagement of said cover when said lever member moves into the open ends of said angle member to hold said cover thereto.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means includes a rotatable column engaged with said support member being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said column for moving said column vertically, and spring means supporting said column with said support for relieving at least a portion of the weight of said column and said support from said cover.

10. A device according to claim 7, including two centering beams extending at right angles to each other, a first rotatable clutch disc supporting said centering beams, a second clutch disc adapted to be connected to the engagement member and having an engagement strap engaged around said centering beams and supported thereby, said engagement strap being displaceable with said second clutch disc upon contact of said engagement member with said cover for centering said second clutch disc with said engagement member in respect to said first clutch disc, said second clutch member being moved to a displaced centered position in respect to said first clutch disc for rotation therewith in the newly centered position. 

1. A device for removing and accurately repositioning a cover for a coking furnace having a charging shaft with a cover seat closed by a cover engaged on said seat, comprising a support having a cover engagement member, rotation drive means on said support for rotating said cover engagement member, movement means connected to said support to raise and lower it and to rotate it to cause said engagement member to be moved into a position overlaying the cover, lowered into engagement with the cover, lifted upwardly with the cover, moved out of alignment with the charging shaft and subsequently to be moved back into alignment with the charging shaft and to be lowered with the cover to place it back on the charging shaft cover seat, said rotation drive including a first rotatable clutch member, ratchet means including a bearing sleeve with an engagement pawl on said cover engagement member supporting said cover engagement member from said first clutch member for engaging said cover engagement member for rotation therewith for permitting shifting of said cover engagement member in relation to said first clutch member to permit repositioning of said cover member for centering it in respect to the cover, said first clutch member having a cross bar with ratchet teeth which are engaged by said pawl, said engagement member including an arm portion contactable with the cover during initial rotation of said engagement member which is deflectable by the cover to cause its repositioning and reengagement in respect to said first clutch member to center it in respect to said cover.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cover is adapted to contain trainer angles which open outwardly in respective opposite directions a diametrical opposite locations on the top of the cover, said engagement member including a rotatable lever member having an arm portion extending outwardly from each side and which is initially positioned between the trainer angles of the cover and rotated to move each lever arm portion into engagement with the trainer angles to permit subsequent rotation and lifting of the cover.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a rotary column connected adjacent its lower end to said support, means for supporting said rotary column for rotative movement and for up and down movement, a drive motor connected to said column for shifting it upwardly and downwardly, and a curved round guide rod engageable with said column during its upward and downward movement for rotating said column.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said guide rod comprises a rod member having an offset portion and being mounted at a fixed location adjacent said column, and roller follower means on said column engaged against each said of said rod member and being movable therealong during vertical movement of said column to cause rotative movement of said column.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a rotatable column which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said column for shifting it vertically, cam means adjacent said column for guiding said column for rotative movement as it is shifted vertically, said column having a lower end connected to said support.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a rotatable column connected to said support, means supporting said column for rotative movement and for vertical displacement, a fluid motor connected to said column for shifting said column vertically, and means associated with said column for rotating said column as it is shifted vertically.
 7. A device for removing and accurately repositioning a cover for a coking furnace having a charging shaft with a cover seat, closed by a cover engaged on a seat, comprising a support having a cover engagement member, rotation drive means on said support for rotating said cover engagement member, movement means connected to said support to raise and lower it and to rotate it and to cause said engagement member to be moved into a position overlaying the cover, lowered into engagement with the cover, lifted upwardly with the cover, moved out of alignment with the charging shaft and subsequently to be moved back into alignment with the charging shaft and to be lowered with the cover to place it on the charging shaft cover seat, coupling means connected between said rotation drive means and said cover engagement member for centering said cover engagement member with the cover, and means associated with said engagement member for securing said cover to said engagement member, said coupling means comprising at least one centering beam, suspension means suspending said engagement member on said centering beam permitting displacement along said beam, and ratchet means carried by said suspension means to hold said suspension means in a fixed position in respect to said centering beams when said engagement member bears the weight of said cover, said movement means comprising a rotary column connected adjacent its lower end to said support, means for supporting said rotary column for rotative movement and for up and down movement, a drive motor connected to said column for shifting it upwardly and downwardly, and a curved round guide rod engageable with said column during its upward and downward movement for rotating said column, said guide rod comprising a rod member having an offset portion and being mounted at a fixed location adjacent said column, and roller follower means on said column engaged against each side of said rod member and being movable therelaong during vertical movement of said column to cause rotative movement of said column.
 8. A device according to claim 7, including ratchet means engageable between said engagement strap and said beam for locking said strap in respect to said beam, said engagement member comprising a rotatable member having a cam lever surface, said cover incluDing an angle member opening in respective opposite directions at widely spaced locations on said cover, said engagement member being rotatable with its axis centered between said angle members and having a surface engageable with the angle members to shift said engagement member and said second disc along said beam for centering the engagement of said cover when said lever member moves into the open ends of said angle member to hold said cover thereto.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement means includes a rotatable column engaged with said support member being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said column for moving said column vertically, and spring means supporting said column with said support for relieving at least a portion of the weight of said column and said support from said cover.
 10. A device according to claim 7, including two centering beams extending at right angles to each other, a first rotatable clutch disc supporting said centering beams, a second clutch disc adapted to be connected to the engagement member and having an engagement strap engaged around said centering beams and supported thereby, said engagement strap being displaceable with said second clutch disc upon contact of said engagement member with said cover for centering said second clutch disc with said engagement member in respect to said first clutch disc, said second clutch member being moved to a displaced centered position in respect to said first clutch disc for rotation therewith in the newly centered position. 